Thread separating



Dec. 9, 1952 W, G, ABBOTT, JR 2,620,546

THREAD SEPARTING I I Filed Jan. 8, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Dec 9, 195 w. G. ABBOTT, JR 2,620,546

THREAD SEPARATING Filed Jan. 8, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET? Y Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THREAD SEPARATING William G. Abbott, Jr., Wilton, N. H.

Application January 8, 1951, SerialNo. 204,892

24 Claims. 1

This invention relates to operating upon warps, in other words, sheets of unwoven generally parallel closely disposed threads, to separate the threads thereof so as to permit individual threads to be worked with or upon either manually or automatically.

The present application represents a further development of, and improvement upon the subject matter of my copending application Serial N-o. 712,639, filed November 27, 1946 (Patent No. 2,537,007) which discloses separating threads of a warp by extending an extensible surface of a continuous element, transversely of the threads of the warp, while holding individual threads of the warp in individual contact with the extending surface. That application also shows how such method of separating threads of a warp can be used in connection with uniting the threads of two warps, and the present invention is similarly useful in separating threads of warps to be united. Other typical instances in which the invention may be used are in separating threads to facilitate applying stop motion wires, or to facilitate making a lease in a warp, or in fact most any instance in which threads of a warp can be more readily worked on in a separated state.

Among the objects of the invention are to prol vide for automatic or at least semi-automatic separation of threads by local separation extending through a widthwise zone which is progressively caused to advance relatively to the width of the web, in a simple and expeditious manner. Other objects of the invention and advantageous features will be apparent from this specification and its accompanying drawings in which a preferred example of the invention is described.

In the accompanying drawings;

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a preferred form of apparatus according to the present invention, this view being taken transversely of the warp threads under treatment; Y

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, i. e., from the opposite point of view from Fig. 1, showing one of the rotatable drums of the apparatus;

y Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is ya diagrammatic View of a portion of the apparatus, taken from the same point of view as Fig. 1 but to a larger scale;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a warp showing the progressively shifting zone of treatment of the warp as lying .at the left edge of the warp, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the progressively shifting zone of treatment of the warp as having reached the middle portion of the warp.

In use of the invention the operation of separating the threads will ordinarily commence at one edge of the warp, for instance at the left as in certain ngures of the accompanying drawings, and the Zone in which the threads are held separated will progress, relatively to the warp, widthwise across the warp until such zone has covered the opposite edge portion of the warp. In the relative progression of this zone of treatment the w-arp as a whole is preferably held stationary and the thread-separating mechanism moved widthwise of the warp, although this relation could be reversed.

Fig. 1 shows the separating operation as having progressed from the left to the right, into the interior of a wide stationarily held warp, a portion of which is diagrammatically Shown.

The warp indicated generally at Il comprises several hundred closely spaced generally parallel threads T. Preferably there is `adhesively secured to each thread, by any suitable adhesive, an elastic band of such material as rubber or the like lla (Fig. 6) extending transversely completely across the warp.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes similar upper and lower carriages 20 each including interconnected front and rear plates 2| and 22 slidable transversely of the warp along horizontal guide bars 23 which form part of any suitable frame for the machine. Each carriage 20 is shown as carrying two rotatable drums 24 and 25 and an elastic rubber belt 26 mounted on these drums. The lower horizontal run of the upper belt 25 and the upper horizontal run of the lower belt 26 extend close together, one above and one below the warp Il and its elastic band Ila, and are pressed together against the intervening warp by pressure shoes 21, 2l which extend from the upper and lower carriages.

The closely disposed runs of the two belts having first been put in an extended state, as hereinafter described, the two carriages are then moved onto the left side of the warp to bring the warp into the nip between the two belts 26, 26, and thence in unisonprogressively across the warp.

The belts 26, 26 at the point Where they initially receive a warp thread are in a relatively unextended state, but in the region between the drums 24 and 25 these belts assume a more extended state and the warp threads which are confined by pressure between the belts accordingly separate and are held separated in the zone lying between the front and rear pairs of drums 253 and 25.

The zone, indicated at S, in which the threads are held separate thus progresses across the web, Fig. 'l showing this zone as occupying the left marginal part of the Warp, and Fig. 8 showing this zone as it has progressed, as in Fig. l, well into the interior of the warp. It will be observed that upon release from the belts 26, 2t at the rolls 25, 25, the Warp threads are free to draw close to one another again. Thus only the relatively short zone S in which the threads are held by the belts 2B, 25 is in a separated state at a given time. extended in width, and that only at the beginning of the operation as shown for instance in Fig. 7.

Within the zone of operation however, the warp threads are temporarily held sufficiently separated so that they `may easily be treated individually by hand or by automatic mechanism in any of a variety of operations such as uniting, the placing of stop wires, or the making of a lease.

In some instances the method'and apparatus may be applied to warps which do not carry such aband as the elastic band H2, and in this case only the Warp threads themselves enter between the belts 26, 2li, and are there separated by the extending action of the belts without such band lle.

In the preferred form of apparatus shown, the progression of the carriages 20, 2B across the warp is brought about by threaded rods 39 which engage non-rotating nuts 3| on the tvvo carriages. The threaded rods 3i! may be connected by a suitable gearing such as gears 33, 33 and driven from any suitable source of power for instance through a pulley 34.

The front rolls 24 are preferably caused to rotate-at a speed, relative to the advance of the carriages, such as though the belts 25, 26 were being unrolled, without slippage, onto a flat surface represented by the closely disposedv warp threads. Thus the portion of the belt surface in the act of receiving the threads is approximately without forward surface speed in the direction of travel of its carriage.

The rear rolls 25, 25 are Vcaused to rotate as much faster than the front rolls as may be necessary to maintain the belts 26, 26 in the desired state of extension where they confine the warp between the two sets of rolls. The desired ratio of speed between the front and rear rolls may be secured by chains 35 interconnecting sprockets 241iL and 25a on the front and rear rolls of eachA carriage.

I'he power for driving the two rolls of each carriage may be taken off from the two shafts 36, which are preferably splined as indicated at 39, by a train of gearing on each carriage.

Thus each carriage may carry a gear D (Fig. 3), splined to the shaft 30 but not intermeshing with the screw threads thereof. Gear 4B is shown as intermeshing with a gear train comprising a gear ll fast on a shaft 42, which shaft is held by brackets 43 and M, a gear l1 fast on the shaft 42, a gear 48, a sleeve 49, fast on gear d8 and rotatable on the shaft 3l] without interrneshingV therewith, a worm 50 fast on the sleeve 59, and a worm Wheel fast on a shaft 52 on which the rearroll A25fis mounted. This train of gearing The warp as a whole is but littleY 4 is proportioned to give the desired speed of the rearV rolls relative to the rate of advance of the carriages, and as indicated above, the ratio between the speeds of the front and rear rolls is determined by the chain and sprocket connection therebetween.

Preparatory to use of the apparatus, the adjacent runs of the two belts between the front and rear rolls are put into an extendedstate. As

shown in Figs. 4 and 5 each of theseveral rolls 2,4 and 25 is provided with a rim 68 having flanges 69a and Geb integral therewith which extend radially inwardly on opposite side faces of the roll, the rim Bil and its flanges 60a and llith being rotatable around the roll by means of a handle 62. In normal operation the rim is locked in a fixed position relative to the roll by a Divoted spring pressed dog 64 which engages in one of a series of'notches 65 in the flange lilla of the rim.

The dog may be disengaged from its notch by a handle 66 and the rim may thenbeturned by the handle 62, relative to the roll, to putitsbelt in an extended condition, the rim then being locked again to the roll by the dog 6d.

While in the preferred form of the invention the threads are adhesively secured to anl elastic rubber element l liL so that the threads respond to the elongation of this element Il occurring as this element enters the nip between belts `26, 26,

this rubber element l Ia may sometimes be omitted and the threads allowed to respond directlyto the elongation of the, surfaces of the ltwo rubber'` belts 2,6, 2t. In either case the threads are lheld separated within a zone having a Width appro;-A

priate to the operation to be performed on the separated threads, such as application of stop wires, the making of a lease, uniting, or other operation. This zone progressively advances across the width of the warp and at the trailing end of this zone the threads progressively are allowed to resume a closely disposed relation.

As the threads pass out of the Zone ySin the particular yapparatus shown in the drawings there are three distinct actions each of which is favorable to the threadsresum-ing their closelyV disposed relation. It will readily be :apparent that in various forms of apparatus less than all of these actions can suiiice to restore Ithe normal closely disposed relation of the threads.

One such action, in case the rubber elementL Ila is used, is of course the contraction of this rubber element i la.

A second such action, evenwhen the rubber element Ila is not employed, is the relief of the confining pressure which has held the threads in a separated state between the rubber belts 26, 2B. When relieved from this pressure the threads are free to resume their closely disposed relation under the influence of the longitudinal tension in the warp. i

A third such 'action is the contraction in ther rating, holding the separated threads rsep'aratedn within a widthwise-shifting zone following behind such progressing place of elongation, and meanwhile, at the trailing end of such zone, allowing the threads progressively to resume a closely-disposed relation.

2. Method of separating the threads of a sheet of closely-disposed unwoven generally parallel threads comprising: causing elongation of an elastic element at a place progressing transversely relatively to the sheet, applying pressure at such place of elongation -to cause the threads to respond to the elongation of the elastic element by separating, holding the separated threads separated within -a widthwise-shifting zone following behind such progressing place of elongation and meanwhile, at the trailing end of such zone, allowing the threads progressively t resume a closely-disposed relation.

3. Method of separating the threads of a sheet of closely-disposed unwoven generally parallel threads comprising: causing elongation of an elastic element at a place progressing transversely relatively to the sheet, applying pressure at such place of elongation to cause the threads to respond to the elongation of the elastic element by separating, rmaintaining such pressure to hold the separated threads separated within a widthwise-shifting zone following behind such progressing place of elongation, and meanwhile, at the trailing end of such zone relieving such pressure and 4allowing the threads progressively to resume a closely-disposed relation.

4. Method of separating the threads of la sheet of closely-disposed unwoven generally parallel threads comprising: causing elongation of an elastic element at a place progressing transversely relatively to the sheet, applying pressure at such place of elongation to cause the threads :to respond to the elongation of the elastic element by separating, maintaining such pressure to hold the separated threads separated within a widthwise-shifting zone following behind such progressing place of elongation, and meanwhile, at the trailing end of such zone, allowing the elastic element to contract and allowing the threads progressively to resume a closely-disposed relation.

5. Method of separating the threads of a sheet of closely-disposed unwoven generally parallel threads comprising: causing elongation of an elastic element `at a place progressing transversely relatively to the sheet, the threads being attached to said elastic element so as to cause the threads at such place of elongation -to respond to the elongation of the elastic element by separating, holding the elastic element elongated through a wid-thwise-shifting zone following behind such progressing place of elongation so as to hold the threads separated in such zone, and meanwhile, at the trailing end of such zone, allowing the elastic element to contract and allowing the threads progressively to resume a closely-disposed relation.

6. Method of separating the threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: stretching an elastic element locally transversely of the sheet, within a zone progressively shifting -transversely of the sheet, applying pressure to subject the threads to the extending 1action of said elastic element so as to separate, and relieving the threads progressively from such extending action at the side of said zone at which the threads leave such zone.

7. Method of separating the threads of `a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: stretching an elastic element locally transversely of the sheet, within a zone progressively shifting transversely of the sheet, :applying pressure to cause the threads to follow the extending action of said elastic element so yas to separate, and rel-ieving the threads progressively from such pressure at the side of such zone at which the threads leave such zone.

8. Method of Separating the threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: stretching an elastic element locally transversely of the sheet, within a Zone progressively shifting tranversely of the sheet, conning the threads within such zone against said elastic element so as to cause said threads to separate, and releasing the threads progressively from such confinement at the side of such zone at which the threads leave such zone,

9. Method of separating the threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: stretching an elastic element locally transversely of the sheet, within a zone progressively shifting transversely of the sheet, applying pres'- sure to cause the threads to follow the extending action of said elastic element so as to separate, and relieving said element progressively from such stretch at the side of such zone at which the threads leave such zone.

1). Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: a separating mechanism and a mounting permitting relative travel of the separating mechanism with relation to the sheet, progressively widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including an endless elastic belt having one run in a state of elongation, and a device for causing the threads to follow the extending action of the belt as the belt enters into such state of elongation. e

1l. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: aV separating mechanism and a mounting permitting relative travel oi the separating mechanism with relation to the sheet, progressively widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including an endless elastic belt having one run in a state of elongation, and a device arranged to press the threads against said belt to cause the threads to follow the extending action oi the belt as the belt enters into such state of elongation.

12. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: a separating mechanism and a mounting permitting relative travel of the separating mechanism with relation to the sheet, progressively widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including two endless elastic belts having opposed runs between which the threads are received, the opposed runs of the belts being in a state of elongation.

13. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: a separating mechanism and a mounting permitting relative travel of the separating mechanism with relation to the sheet, progressively widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including two endless elastic belts have opposed runs between which the threads are received, means for pressing the opposed runs of the belts together, and connections to the belts at opposite ends of said opposed runs to maintain said opposed runs in a state of elongation.

14. Apparatus forseparating threads of a sheet of unwoven generallyv` parallel threads, comprisated-e146 7, ing: a separating mechanism anda. mounting. permitting relative travel of the separating mechanism with relation to the sheet, progressively widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including an endless elastic belt having one run extending in the direction of such relative.

travel, a device for pressing the threads against said run of the belt, and driving connectionsto the endless belt fixing the speed of the belt with relation to the speed of such relative travel.

1.5. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads-comprising: a separating mechanism mounted to travel widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including an endless elastic belt having one run extending in the direction of travel of the separating mechanism, means for pressing the threads aga-inst said run of the belt, and driving connections to the endless belt iixing the speed of the belt with relation to the speed of travel of the separating mechanism.

16. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: a carriage mounted to travel widthwise of the sheet, an endless elastic belt and forward and rearward rolls mounting the belt on the carriage, the belt having a run extending in the direction of travel from one such roll to the other and adapted to receive the sheet of threads, a device for rpressing thek threads against said Arun, and a driving connection relating the speed of the forward such roll to the speed of travel of the carriage so that at the place where the belt receives the threads atr the entrance to said run the portion of the belt surface receiving the threads is approximately without forward surface speed in the direction of travel of the carriage.

17. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: two carriages mounted to travel widthwise of the sheet at opposite faces thereof, two endless belts and pairs of rolls mounting the belts onthe respective carriages, the two belts having op- Y posed closely-'disposed runs extending in the direction of travel ofthe carriages and adapted to receive the threads therebetween, and driving connections relating to the speed of said belts, at their entry into said opposed runs, to the speed of travel of the carriages so that at the place where the belts receive the threads the portions of the belt surfaces receiving the threads are approximately'without forward surface speed in the direction of travel of the carriages.

18. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: a carriage mounted to travel widthwise of the sheet, an endless elastic belt and rolls mounting the belt on the carriage, the belt having a run .extending in the direction of travel from one such roll to the other and adapted to receive the sheet of threads, a device for pressing the threads against said run, and a driving connection between the two said rolls adapted to maintain in a state of elongation said run of the belt which receives the thread.

19. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: two carriages mounted to travel widthwise of the sheet at opposite faces thereof,` a forward roll and a rearward roll on each carriage, endless elastic belts on said rolls of the respective carriages, the two said belts having opposed closelydisposed runs extendingin the direction of travel of:` the carriagesv and; adapted to receive l thethreadstherebetween, and ,l driving' connections between V'the forwardtrolls andthe rearward rollsr adapted :to maintain the. said opposed runs of the belts in a state. of elongation.

20. Apparatus for separatingthreads of a sheet:

of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising.: a carriagemounted to travel widthwise of:

the sheet, anendless. elastic beltand forward and rearward rolls mounting the belt on the car riage, the belthaving arun rextending inthe direction of travel from one such roll to the other` andV adaptedy to receive the sheet of threads,A

means for pressing-the threads against 'said run, a driving connection relating the speed of the forwardsuch roll to the speed of'travel of 'the carriage so that at the place Where the beltreceives thethreads atv the entrance `to'said `run the portion of the beltf surface-.receivingthe threads is approximately without forward surface speedin the direction of travel offthe carriage,

and driving connections between the forward rolland the rearward vroll adapted to maintain the beltin an elongated state between said rolls 2l. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, compris-l ing; two carriages mounted to travel widthwiseof the sheet at opposite -faces thereof, a forward roll and a rearward'froll on eachcarriage, end-1v less elastic belts on said rollsof the'respectivecarriages, the two saidy belts having opposed closely-disposed runs extending in the direction of travel ofthe carriages and adapted to receivev the threads therebetween, driving connections relating the speed of the said forward rolls to thel speed of travel of the carriages so that 'at'theplace where the -belts receive the threads at the entrance between said runs the portions of thev belt surfaces receiving the threads are approximately without forward surface speed inthe di'- rection of travelV of the carriages, and driving connections between the forward rolls and the rearward rolls adapted to maintain the saidv opposed runs of the belts in a stateA of elongation.

22. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet .of unwoven generally parallel threads, compristhe carriages including elements slidingly keyed. shafts for xing.

to the splines of said threaded the speeds'of the belts with relation to the speed of travel of the carriages.

23.Apparatus for separatingthreads'of a `sheet l of unwoven generally parallel threads, compris-` ing: a separating mechanism and a mounting permitting relative'r travel of the separating mechanismwith relation to the sheet, progressively widthwiseVV of the sheet, said separating mechanism includingtwo rolls andan endless elastic belt on the rolls and having a run between said rolls-adevice for pressing the threads against said run of the belt, driving mechanism for said rolls establishing the relative speeds'ofv saidrolls, and an adjustable connectionY permitting rotation of one roll relativeto `the other roll to provide an` initial-elongation of said runof the belt'. Y' V 24. Apparatus for separating threads of a sheet of unwoven generally parallel threads, comprising: a separating mechanism and a mounting permitting relative travel of the separating mechanism with relation to the sheet, progressively Widthwise of the sheet, said separating mechanism including two rolls and an endless elastic belt on the rolls and having a run between said rolls, a device for pressing the threads against said run of the belt, and driving mechal0 nism for said rolls establishing the relative speeds of said rolls, one at least of said rolls including a hub portion and a tire portion shiftable circum- 10 ferentially thereof to apply an initial elongation to said run of the belt, and a device for locking the tire portion and hub portion in selected positions relative to each other.

WILLIAM G. ABBOTT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Chatield Sept. 19. 1950 Number 

